Fil-Am Partylist Supporters Decry Killings of Two Filipino Youth Poll-watchers

News Release
May 18, 2007

Reference: Berna Ellorin, Secretary-General, BAYAN USA, email: secgen@bayanusa.org

Fil-Am Partylist Supporters Decry Killings of Two Filipino Youth Poll-watchers
Fil-Am Alliance Pledges Vigilance Against Election Fraud, Intensified Violence

No later than a few days after progressive partylists Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, and Kabataan claim victory in the polls, concerned Fil-Am communities are indignant over news of two Filipino youth poll-watchers abducted and slain.

Two poll watchers of the Kabataan (Youth) party-list group were abducted and murdered in Capalonga, Camarines Norte, the group said Friday.

A Kabataan statement said Jun Bagasbas, 20 years old, and Ronilo Vallevare, both Kabataan organizers and poll watchers, were allegedly seized by soldiers on May 15 and were found dead the next day between Barangay (village) Mataque and Catabaguangan.

"The hard-one victories of the truly progressive partylists we here in the US supported tirelessly all the way should never come at the expense of the lives of our Filipino youth," states BAYAN USA Chair Chito Quijano, also a former national student leader with the League of Filipino Students.

"It is with grave sadness that we ask what kind of administration seeks to kill it own youth to stay in power? We are indignant. This only exposes why we must not only to fight for these parylists to win seats, but fight to protect from election violence, abductions, and killings as well," Quijano added.

The US Chapter of BAYAN (or BAYAN USA) launched and participated in several initiatives to promote the Kabataan Partylist and others, including launching a nationwide text brigade called TEXT BACK (TEXT Brigade Against Cheating and Killings) that eventually picked up in other global regions such as Europe and Australia.

In it's broader awareness campaign against election fraud and violence in the Philippines, the alliance joined the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns or NAFCON in a nationally-coordinated "Pagsambang Bayan" (People's Prayer Service) uniting Filipino immigrants and US-born/raised Filipinos in prayer on Mother's Day in defense of their common motherland. Services were held in New York, San Bernardino, and Chicago.

Qujano added that while the alliance remains happy with the seats won by the progressive partylists, it vows to step up its vigilance against intensified violence and expose the election fraud that was surely committed.

"We want our kababayan (compatriots) to know that although we are outside the country, our concern over the election season and the ramifications of election fraud and violence have not dwindled," Quijano ended. ####

Kabataan poll watchers abducted and slain by military in Camarines Norte

May 18, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reference:

Sarah Katrina Maramag, Media Officer, 09193486790

Maritess Lopez, Bicol Coordinator, 09103199044

NEWS FLASH!

Kabataan poll watchers abducted and slain by military in Camarines Norte

Kabataan Party-list strongly condemns ­­the abduction and murder of two of its poll watchers in Capalonga, Camarines Norte.

Jun Bagasbas, 20 years old, of Ulipanan Jose Panganiban; and Ronilo Vallevare, 16 years old, of Brgy. Old Camp Capalonga, both Kabataan organizers and poll watchers, were abducted by suspected soldiers on May 15.

The two were on their way home after delivering food to Kabataan Party-list volunteers when they were abducted by uniformed men near the Brgy. Old Camp Capalong polling place.

They next day, May 16, they were found dead along the boundaries of Brgys. Mataqui and Catabaguangan, Capalonga, Camarines Norte.

On the same day, the military issued a statement that Bagasbas and Vallevare were civilian casualties of an encounter between the New People's Army and the AFP on May 15.

"This is a very sad period for all vigilant youth and citizens. First the heroic deaths of two teachers in Batangas and now the senseless killing of two youths who have vowed to protect the votes of the youth and people," said Raymond Palatino, national president and nominee.

"We condemn the brutal murders of Jun and Ronilo. This extra-judicial killing is undoubtedly election and political-related. We hold the government accountable for failing to address the climate of impunity that has permeated this election period at the onset. We will not rest until justice is served."

Kabataan Party-list called on the Comelec to immediately conduct an investigation on the killings.

Kabataan Party-list is set to hold an indignation rally in front of Comelec at 4pm today. ###

6/10 Jose Maria Sison Book Reading in NYC

Join Anakbayan NY/NJ and BAYAN USA as they organize a tribute to a Filipino youth leader and revolutionary Jose Maria Sison.


As the Philippines continues to hit the international radar as the Second Front to the so-called US War on Terror and with numerous international human rights watchdogs denouncing the intensified counter-insurgency tactics and human rights crisis under the US- Arroyo regime, the broadening anti-US interventionist movement in the Asia Pacific region also continues to build.

Philippine Society and Revolution (PSR), penned by a young Jose Maria Sison under the pseudonym Amado Guerrero, was first released in 1970 and received as subversive literature at a time of intense US-initiated conflict in the Asia Pacific region-- particularly the Vietnam War. The US government retained it biggest military stronghold in the Philippines with the largest overseas US bases stationed in the Philippine island of Luzon.

Despite being banned by the US-Marcos dictatorship at the time, PSR immediately earned its place as the premier historical account of the basic problems of the Filipino people at the hands of US imperialism, backward agrarian practices, and government corruption. PSR inspired generations of Filipino youth and students to take on the cause of genuine nationalism and push for an intensified national democratic movement in the Philippines that continues to frustrate US political and economic intervention in Philippine affairs to this day. The re-surged Philippine movement now stands as the longest-running anti-colonial revolution in the Asia-Pacific region.

Jose Maria Sison, founding Chairperson of the Kabataan Makabayan (Nationalist Youth) and one of the longest-held political prisoners under Martial Law, is currently the Chairperson of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS). . He is a victim of the US War on Terror having been listed as a terrorist by the US State Department shortly after the deployment of US troops to the Philippines after September 11th.

Sison has remained one of the sharpest and most vocal critics of US foreign policy, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Jose Maria Sison: At Home in the World is a literary endeavor to bring to the world audience the true person being demonized by the US in a futile attempt to isolate one of the world's leading anti-imperialists.

Since 1987, Sison has resided in the Netherlands as a recognized political refugee. A 2004 court ruling by the European Union endangers the residency status of Sison in Europe. An international campaign to defend the rights of Jose Maria Sison is currently being carried around the world.

Fil-Am Youth Support the Sentosa 27 Nurses, Decry Education for Exportation

Anakbayan NY/NJ Statement of Solidarity with the Sentosa 27
No Filipino youth is educated to stay in the Philippines.

After signing their contracts with the Sentosa Recruitment Agency, the Sentosa 27 nurses expected brighter futures in the U.S. However, when they arrived and started working under the abusive and exploitative Sentosa agency, their hopes and dreams were shattered. Upon her arrival, Annabelle Capulong described the living conditions, "The staff house was dilapidated, the furnitures and appliances were garbage, and the living spaces were crowded." In addition to horrid living conditions, Archiel Buagas was subject to frustrating working conditions with almost 30-60 patients per shift and constant multi-tasking, doing the job of two to three people. Currently, the Sentosa 27 nurses are facing strong retaliation by their former recruiting agency, which is backed by US and Philippines political figures, in their efforts to stand up for their rights, in protest of the exploitative working and living conditions created by the Sentosa agency.

The Sentosa 27 nurses are a mere percentage of the thousands of nurses that leave the Philippines each year in search of greener pastures, but they are the strong minority that will stand up for their human rights and fight against the exploitation of themselves and other future nurses. Anakbayan NY/NJ, a Filipino youth organization in New York and New Jersey, stands in full support of the Sentosa 27 nurses. These Filipino women and men are the brave heroes that are challenging the current exploitation/exportation of Filipinos.

According to the World Health Organization, fifteen thousand Filipino nurses leave the Philippines in search of better futures all over the world, especially the United States. Filipino nurses are trained to go abroad. There are over 350 nurses training schools in the Philippines where the primary purpose is to export nurses overseas, under the Labor Export Policy that was created during the Marcos regime. Within their classes, the English language is enforced because if they want to succeed in the global market, they must speak English.

Even prior to nursing training schools, the Philippine educational system is being transformed into a global marketing scheme. Students are encouraged by their teachers to take part in the international competition, therefore no longer studying to help the country on a national level. Even curriculum of school has changed to boost the export of workers for this industrial labor market, where math, science, and english are the only important subjects, and other liberal arts i.e. history and social studies are set aside for only one day per week because they are no longer considered necessary. The World Trade Organization help dictates this educational structure and curriculum of the Philippines producing migrant workers, and universities are designed to export workers to concede to the demands of globalization. No Filipino youth is educated to stay in the Philippines.

In the case of the Sentosa 27, we also see the extremities of the "brain drain" turned into a "brain hemorrhage". Elmer Jacinto, one of the Sentosa 27 nurses, scored the highest on the medical board examinations, who was already a doctor in the Philippines but changed his course to be a nurse in the U.S. because he would get better pay. This is the reality that all overseas Filipino workers face. Archiel Buagas said, "I left for the sake of my family." The reason why Filipinos leave is to help support their family back home. On the wider spectrum, overseas workers make the government happy due to the billions of dollars in remittances that boosts the Philippine economy.

The time is now that there must be change in the education system to foster an education that does not dehumanize us to become commodified exports of the world market. As one of Filipino student says, "Hindi tayo dapat mag-aral para magtrabaho, kundi dapat tayo mag-aral upang maging tao." (We should not study to work, instead we should study so that we understand our own humanity.)

On June 3, the Philippine Independence Day Parade, Anakbayan NY/NJ will be marching with the Sentosa 27. We will be meeting at 10:30am at the steps of 41 St and 5th Ave. We invite all Filipino youth and supporters to come march with us in support of the Sentosa 27 nurses.

For more information, contact Anakbayan at anakbayan_ny@yahoo.com. ###

5/22 6pm@IAC That the Mountains May Chant the Truth

That The Mountains May Chant The Truth

a short documentary film with guest speakers from the Indigenous Peoples of the Cordilleras on the political killings in the Philippines

**********************************

You're invited to come and know more about the struggles of the Cordilleras in the Philippines, the heartland of an Indigenous Peoples fighting for justice and survival. As the volatile political situation in the Philippines have gained more international attention and pressure, the struggles and their stories will further shed light to the worsening conditions of Human Rights in the Philippines and of the oppressed Indigenous Peoples of the Cordilleras continuing struggle for the recognition and respect of their ancestral domain.

Film Showing: That The Mountains May Chant The Truth (31 Minutes)

Guest Speakers: Joan Carling (Chairperson, Cordillera Peoples Alliance)

Jen Awingan (CPA, Anakbayan)

Ronnie Awingan (Anakbayan)

It will be on the May 22, 2007 Tuesday

The event starts at 6:00 PM until10:00 PM

At the International Action Center (http://www.iacenter.org)
55 West 17th Street between 5th and 6th Ave, 5th Floor
Take F to 14th street and 6 avenue or N, Q, R, W to 14th Street/Union Sq.

Kiwi's Kabataan Partylist Video

This is for a more peaceful election in the Philippines!
Iboto Kabataan!

The video is karaoke style, so sing/rap along!



music by kiwi
video by ET (http://www.myspace.com/etmassmovement)

Lyrics:
For the workers
For the students
For the peasants
For the women
For the poor
For the hungry
For the youth
KABATAAN (partylist)

Human rights
Education
For our people
For our nation
For our future
For our life
KABATAAN (partylist)

Kiwi:
This is our mission / this is our struggle
This is history rewritten.... this is for the children
Switchin' up the drama of this system / now listen
The youth are in the building / bringing you a newer vision

It's time to mobilize / take to the streets and organize
Take control of our lives / see the world with open eyes
The youth see through the lies / and we want what is just
They're sayin we're the future, so the future's up to US!

It's our basic right to get a decent education
So we can have the tools to really build a better nation
Para sa ating bayan nyayon ay lumalaban
Isangmahal sa lahat ng mga KABATAAN!!!

Kabataan Partylist is texters, bloggers' choice

http://www.kabataanparty.com/press-releases/2007/kabataan-partylist-is-texters-choice/

Kabataan Partylist is texters, bloggers' choice



Kabataan Partylist has been receiving messages of support and endorsements from different youth personalities and groups in the homestretch of its electoral campaign.

Consumer and mobile rights advocacy group TXTPower officially endorsed Kabataan Partylist as it relaunched its website . Filipino-American youth organizations and cause-oriented groups have started sending messages through text and the internet as part of their TEXT B.A.C.K. Internet Blast in support of Kabataan Partylist.

This morning, Kabataan Partylist President and First Nominee Raymond Palatino met with fellow bloggers to finalize the "Kabataan Cyber-Fever" which aims to link up Filipino bloggers in support of Kabataan Partylist.
Present were Shari Cruz (misteryosa.com), who bagged the Best Personal Blog Award in this year's Philippine Blog Awards; Victor Villanueva ( bikoy.net), who is also a finalist in the same category; Jay Rocas from the De La Salle University in Dasmarinas ( Four-eyed Journal), and; Vencer Crisostomo ( Student Strike) and Sarah Katrina Maramag ( Adarna's Attic) of the Young Radicals blog.

Prominent blogger and analyst Manuel L. Quezon III (MLQ3) earlier endorsed Kabataan Partylist in his blog (www.quezon.ph )

Kabataan's Palatino maintains his own blog (mongser's nest) and is Global Voices Online's Filipino correspondent

Here are some of the support statements for Kabataan:

On Hello Garci 3rd anniv, TXTPower relaunches site,
endorses Kabataan, warns vs fraud

http://www.txtpower.org/news/kabataan-partylist-is-texters-choice

Consumer advocacy and mobile activist organization TXTPower today openly endorsed Kabataan Partylist even as it warned against a repeat of the Hello Garci scandal in Monday's elections.

Today is the third anniversary of the May 10, 2004 elections which were marred by the Hello Garci scandal which exploded following the discovery of an audiotaped cellphone conversation between President Arroyo and Commission on Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

To mark the occasion, TXTPower today relaunched its website as a portal and team blog. Reposted on the site were the original Hello Garci ringtone and a YouTube video based on it.

The Hello Garci ringtone became the most popular political ringtone in 2005.

In a statement, the group said that "Kabataan Partylist fully supports TXTPower's advocacy of consumer and political rights. Kabataan Partylist is 100-percent behind TXTPower in batting for lower prices and better services, in battling abusive big companies, in demanding an end to government neglect of consumer welfare. Kabataan Partylist vows to be the champion and voice of Pinoy texters and telecommunication consumers inside Congress."

TXTPower vowed to form text and email brigades in the homestretch of Kabataan Partylist's campaign.

"We hope President Arroyo would no longer call any Comelec official to ensure the victory of her favored candidates. No to a Hello Garci part two," said the group.

The relaunched team blog have the following initial members: physicists Kim Gargar and Dr. Gani Tapang, environmentalist Trixie Concepcion, IT expert Ric Bahague, writer Tonyo Cruz, journalist
Ederic Eder, student leaders Vencer Crisostomo, Jhayvie Dorado and Ana Gabriela Celestial. ###

TEXT B.A.C.K. Internet Blast

PLEASE FORWARD THE FOLLOWING:

Please take a minute to send the following message to your relatives
and friends in the Philippines. Send them via text message, e-mail,
Yahoo messenger, gmail chat or any other form. Post them to various
listserves, websites, discussion groups. Send them as testimonies on
friendster or messages on myspace. Any which way, just spread them as
far and wide as possible:

_______________________________
"KUNG MAHAL MO ANG BAYAN
PANDARAYA LABANAN.
POL KILINGS TUTULAN!
SA TRAPO WAG PALOKO
PROGRESIBO IBOTO.
VOTE KABATAAN PARTY!
FROM TEXT BACK-USA"
______________________________

(Translation: If you love our motherland, fight against cheating.
Oppose political killings!
Don't be fooled by traditional politicians, vote for progressives)

TEXT BACK (Brigade Against Cheating & Killings) - USA

"Our votes may not count, but our voices will be heard:
No to cheating! Stop Political Killings!
Vote for Progressive Party Lists!"
Reference:
Sarah Katrina Maramag, 09193486790

JUSTICE FOR SENTOSA 27

News Release
May 8, 2007

Reference: Archiel Buagas, Justice for Sentosa 27 Campaign, email: justice4sentosanurses @ yahoo.com; Rico Foz, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, email: nafconusa @ yahoo.com

Fil-Am Groups Laud "Sentosa 27" Healthworkers for Fighting Injustice
International Campaign, Online Petition Launches on National Nurses Week

New York - At the end of an intensely emotional town hall meeting at the Philippine Forum headquarters last Sunday evening, individuals and groups officially kicked off National Nurses week in the United States with vows to clear the 27 former Sentosa-employed health workers, including one of their lawyers, Atty. Felix Vinluan, from all criminal and civil charges filed against them by the former, officially registered as Sentosa Care LLC and its various health care facilities in New York.

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), a national alliance of Filipino organizations in the US with international networks, is spearheading the "Justice for the Sentosa 27" campaign along with said healthworkers that also aims to collect unpaid overtime and back wages due the Sentosa refused to release, have the State of New York investigate the agency's overseas hiring and work operations, and have US Senator Charles Schumer, a Democrat of New York and Philippine senatorial candidate Michael Defensor to explain their roles in the lifting of the suspension of the Sentosa license in Philippines two weeks after it was ordered by the Philippine Overseas and Employment Agency (POEA).

An online petition outlining these demands can be found at www.petitiononline.com/j4s27/.

"We arrived in New York in November, in the cold season. We were brought to the staff house where we were stay for two months for free and save money we need when we move to an apartment. When we got there, Dr. Jacinto (the famous top notcher doctor-turned-top notcher nurse) and I shared the room with other Filipino nurses. We took turns sleeping on the bed and on the floor. It wasn't comfortable, but I didn't complain. I told myself, if Dr. Jacinto who topped the board exams is not complaining, I shouldn't be complaining," said James Millena, also a nurse-turned-doctor who revealed that he was assigned to handle 100 patients by himself throughout his shift.

NAFCON hailed the "Sentosa 27", as the health workers are now called, for "standing up to Goliath" in the defense of their rights as immigrant workers and as Filipinos. Stories of how Filipino workers, particularly health professionals, suffer in the hands of their employers in the United States circulate from time to time.

"For the first time, health professionals bravely came out to fight for what is right. To defend not only their dignity but that of the Filipino people in the US," community lawyer Merit Salud said in his statement of support to the Sentosa 27.

The World Health Organization has cited the Philippines as the "largest source of registered nurses working overseas". They also cite that there are about 15,000 nurses who leave the Philippines annually to be farmed in 30 different countries. The United States remains to top destination for Filipino nurses, who train aggressively under the Philippine government's Labor Export Policy (LEP).

"We are launching this campaign with our international friends to expose failures in the US government's domestic policies on immigration and labor and the Philippine government's domestic policies in outmigration and protecting the basic rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers," stated Berna Ellorin, Special Commissioner on Philippine Affairs for NAFCON and secretary-general of BAYAN USA.

International carriers of the "Justice for the Sentosa 27" campaign include the Philippine-based Alliance of Health Workers, Migrante International, Health Alliance for Democracy, and BAYAN Philippines. US-based carriers include labor groups as well as Filipino-American groups spanning over 23 cities under NAFCON.

Philippine Forum conferred the "Gawad Bulosan (Bulosan Award)" to the Sentosa 27 "for their bravery and courage" to fight for their rights as immigrant workers. The award is given annually in honor of Filipino immigrant worker Carlos Bulosan who became a celebrated writer/activist in the United States in the 1930s and 40s.

Sen. Schumer wrote the Philippines Government after the Order for Preventive Suspension was given to the Sentosa Recruitment Agency, the Philippine branch of Sentosa Care Group. Acting on the US senator's letter, the aspiring Philippine senator Defensor called POEA administrator Rosalinda Baldoz. The "Sentosa 27" acquired copies/records of said correspondences.

"We came to America, like most Filipinos, in search of the better life," Maricelle Dealo said to stress that what they found out as soon as they arrived in New York to work for the Sentosa facilities was exactly the opposite.

The next public campaign meeting for the Sentosa 27 is this Sunday, May 13th, 5pm at the Philippine Forum office at 54-05 Seabury Street, in Elmhurst. (Take V/G/R to Grand Ave/Newtown).

For more information on the Justice for the Sentosa 27 campaign, email: justice4sentosanurses@yahoo.com or call 718-565-8862. ###

attached document: "Breaking the Silence" by Maritess Ramos of the Sentosa 27, pictures from May 6th Townhall meeting with Sentosa 27

US FILIPINOS PARTICIPATE IN PHILIPPINE ELECTION THROUGH TEXT MESSAGING

"Our votes may not count, but our voices will be heard:
No to cheating! Stop Political Killings!
Vote for Progressive Party Lists!"
-TEXT B.A.C.K. USA

--------------------------
New York, May 7, 2007


US FILIPINOS PARTICIPATE IN PHILIPPINE ELECTION THROUGH TEXT MESSAGING

Hundreds of Filipino-Americans started a massive campaign of sending cell phone text messages containing the message:

"KUNG MAHAL MO ANG BAYAN
PANDARAYA LABANAN.
POL KILINGS TUTULAN!
SA TRAPO WAG PALOKO
PROGRESIBO IBOTO.
VOTE KABATAAN PARTY!
PLS FWD TO 10 PPL.
FROM TEXT BACK-USA"

(If you love our motherland, fight against cheating. Oppose political killings!Don't be fooled by traditional politicians, vote for progressives)

to thousands of Filipinos in the U.S. the Philippines and elsewhere in the world encouraging them to forward the said text message to relatives and friends in the Philippines.

TEXT B.A.C.K. stands for TEXT Brigade Against Cheatings and Killings is an initiative of BAYAN USA member organizations and launched on May 7, 2007. Precisely at 10:30 AM Manila Time, hundreds upon hundreds of text messages was sent from various cities of the U.S. starting in New York City, Jersey City, San Francisco, Los angeles, Seattle and Hawaii to the candidates and members of KABATAAN PARTY LIST headquarters in
Quezon City as well as to various provincial and regional chapters from Ilocos Norte, Baguio City, Central Luzon, Bulacan, the National Capitol Region, Southern tagalog, Central Visayas, Cebu City, Mindanao Region, Davao City and many more. The text message was also sent to various members of the media.

The text message is meant to encourage Filipinos to be vigilant and watchful against cheating and electoral fraud. The message also contain a plea to oppose the rampant political killings.

"A vast number of Filipinos abroad can not vote, but the circumstances should not prevent us from directly participating and making our voices heard in the coming elections. The fact that Filipinos, particularly in the US is responsible for keeping the Philippine economy afloat, we deserve the right to be heard in the elections. Since we cannot vote, we want to encourage our kababayans to vote for whom we believe deserve our votes. We are using the technology of text messaging and the internet to spread our message." a statement by Gary Labao, spokesperson for TEXT B.A.C.K. USA. and a member of BAYAN USA in New York.

"Araw araw pinapangako namin na tuloy tuloy kaming magse-send ng text sa lahat ng mga kamag-anak, kaibigan at kakilala namin sa Pilipinas. Dito sa U.S. lahat ng mga kapit bahay, mga katrabaho at lahat ng iba pang Pilipinong kakilala namin ay ite text namin para makasiguradong umabot sa libu-libo hanggang milyon ang ma-abot ng mensahe namin, pati sa 'Friendster' at 'Myspace' saka sa mga 'blogs' ikakalat namin ito."
(Everyday we promise to keep sending to all our relatives and friends in the Philippines. Here in the US, we will also text our neighbors and co-workers to ensure that thousands up to millions of people reach our message including 'Friendster', 'Myspace' and blogs.) the statement said by Bobz Manuel, a member of Anakbayan in New Jersey, a prticipant for TEXT BACK USA.

"Pati sa kapatid kong nasa US Navy, hihimukin namin sila na mag text din, dahil napakarami ng kabataang Pilipino ang nasa US Navy ngayon nagustuhin man nilang bumoto ay hindi pwede, pero kahit paano, sa text man lang ay makalahok din sila." (Even to my brother who is in the US Navy, we will encourage them to send the texts because there are so many Filipino youths right now enlisted in the US Navy who can't vote
even if they wanted to, at least through texts, they can participate.) Manuel added.

TEXT BACK has also already caught international support with news of other major cities in various countries all over the world taking up the campaign. In Particular, Australia has also launched TEXT BACK Australia sending similar text messages to the Philippines. More countries with large Filipino communities are soon expected to follow.

In the following days until election day, TEXT BACK USA and KABATAAN PARTY vowed to continue sending the text message to reach millions of Filipinos in the Philippines and all over the world. TEXT BACK USA initiators include New York Committee for Human Rights (NYCHRP) in the Philippines, Anakbayan U.S. Chapters, League of Filipino Students (LFS) SFSU & members of BAYAN USA. In the Philippines it is being carried and promoted by KABATAAN PARTY.

For more information about the TEXT BACK campaign contact Gary Labao, BAYAN USA, e-mail NYCHRP @ yahoo.com, tel. 646-479-1595 in the U.S. in the Philippines: Sarah Maramag, KABATAAN PARTY, e-mail: adarna@gmail.com, 0919-348-6790

NEWS FLASH! TEXT B.A.C.K.

News Flash!!!! TEXTBACK: Fil-Ams Launch National Text Brigade in support of party-list bets

Kabataan, Gabriela, and Suara Bangsamoro Tagged as Fil-Am favorites for 2007

News Release
May 6, 2007


References:
Gary Labao, Spokesperson, TEXT BACK USA, email: nychrp@yahoo.com;
Sarah Katrina Maramag, Media Officer, Kabataan Party List, kabataan.national@gmail.com

In the final week stretch before Filipinos line up to the ballot boxes, a growing number of Filipino-Americans are also stepping up their initiative promote better legislators in the Philippine Congress.


http://www.kabataanparty.com/category/press-releases/

A nationwide text brigade initiative of the US Chapter of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, or BAYAN USA, called TEXT BACK (TEXT Brigade Against Cheating and Killings) will target family, friends, and loved ones of the Filipino-American community in the Philippines to vote for sectoral party-lists Kabataan Party, Gabriela Women’s Party, and Suara Bangsamoro.

“A high constituency of our national Fil-Am alliance are youth, young women, and of course, as Filipinos, we understand the conditions of being an marginalized ethnic minority. We see genuine hope in the legislative agendas of Kabataan Party, Gabriela Women’s Party and Suara Bangsamoro to trail blaze a brighter future representing these voices amidst the cheating, violence, and the maneuvers of the trapos (traditional politicians),” states Gary Labao of the New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP) and a spokesperson for TEXT BACK USA.

Beginning Sunday, May 6th, 7:30pm PT/10:30pm ET in the United States, nationally-coordinated text messages will be sent from texters in New York, San Franciso, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Honolulu and other US cities to various Philippine cities including Manila, Baguio, Davao, and Cebu City.

Text messages will be sent in Tagalog, Visayan, Ilocano, and English. Messages will include catch-phrases such as: Kung Mahal Mo Ang Bayan, Pandaraya Labanan; Pol Killings Wakasan, Sa Trapo Wag Paloko, Progresibo Iboto (If you love your motherland, fight against cheating; End political killings; Don’t vote for traditional politicians, vote for progressives), and signed TEXTBACK USA.

Conversely, in the Philippines, representative from various partylists will be awaiting the text messages from their US-based supporters.

“It is estimated that one Filipino in the US supports 4-5 Filipinos in the Philippines. Fil-Ams are the largest overseas community outside of the Philippines, with almost 4 million Filipinos. With those calculations we anticipate TEXT BACK USA spreading like wildfire reaching thousands, maybe more, of our countrymen this final week before elections,” stated Sarah Katrina Maramag, Media Officer of Kabataan Party List in Manila and Vice-Chairperson of international Filipino youth organization Anakbayan.

Labao also stated that overseas Filipinos may not be lining up by the ballot boxes this election season, but their political power must be asserted, especially during this politically crucial time.

“We are particularly concerned that this election season the Arroyo regime and its supporters will exact heightened repressive measures– including violence, abductions, and killings– to secure its stronghold over the Philippine government versus the democratic will of the Filipino people,” Labao added.

Labao also reiterated the crucial contributions of overseas Filipinos.

“If not for the economic value of overseas remittances, particularly the billions from the US, the Philippine economy will sink. We should have a say in who is elected in the Philippine government,” Labao ended. ###

MEDIA ADVISORY

TEXT BACK USA = sure votes for youth representation in Congress!


May 6, 7:30pm (US time)
May 7, 10:30pm (Philippine time)

Press conference, Kabataan Party-list National Headquarters, 10-C Speaker Perez St., Quezon City; Kabataan regional headquarters (to follow)

ANAKBAYAN LA organizer gets hit by LAPD and ANAKBAYAN NY/NJ may 1 events

ANAKBAYAN NY/NJ STRONGLY OPPOSE THE LAPD'S RACIST ATTACK ON IMMIGRANT FAMILIES ON MAY1 AND FILIPINO YOUTH FROM ANAKBAYAN NY/NJ MAGNIFY THEIR VOICES DURING MAY 1 RALLY IN NEW YORK CITY

New York City- Filipino youth across the United States marched in solidarity with immigrant families and workers throughout the streets of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, and other cities. Members from Anakbayan NY/NJ expressed their enthusiasm for immigrant rights saying NO to deportations and ICE raids in front of thousands of people with fiery executions of speeches and song. Most rallies were peaceful, except for Los Angeles's rally that turned into chaos when the police suited up in their riot gear, and started using rubber bullets and tear gas, and even injured a Filipino youth from Anakbayan LA. We strongly oppose this racist police aggression that occurred in L.A. against immigrant families and one of our own allies of Anakbayan, a collective of Filipino youth, students and non-students.

Most May 1 mobilizations across the nation were peaceful, except in Los Angeles, where the cops started to attack innocent bystanders, who were not part of the rally. The cops used rubber bullets that broke the skin of several bystanders, and used tear gas to disperse people. Most of the people being attacked by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) were families and elders.

Hollie Enriquez, the member of Anakbayan LA who was hit by the LAPD described the situation as,

"The police's actions weren't targeting people who were instigating fights, instead they were shooting primarily at Latina families in a very indiscriminate manner. One of the cops said to a vendor who was an elder, "Hurry up, hurry up you fucking Mexican!". After the cop had said that comment, he reached for the Mexican flag taped to the vendor's push cart, but I grabbed the flag out of the cop's hand and asked him what he was doing. The cop responded by hitting me in the back with his baton. Based on the police's comments and actions, this was the LAPD's racist aggression on the local immigrant community."

This racist act against immigrant families and the elderly is completely unjust, and should not be taken lightly. The Filipino youth in New York and New Jersey strongly oppose the LAPD's actions, and support Anakbayan L.A. and all the immigrant communities in L.A. that are demanding justice from Tuesday's atrocity.



In contrast to Los Angeles's violence, New York City was a somewhat "peaceful" protest with ten arrests, Anakbayan NY/NJ youth sang "Awit ng Pagasa", a Tagalog song symbolizing the hope for positive change within our society, standing in solidarity with the workers and peasants, and to never give up the struggle. Afterwards several representatives from Anakbayan NY/NJ, including Michelle Saulon, Christina Hilo, and Anne Beryl Corotan spoke passionately about the immigration situation both in the Philippines and the United States, critically analyzing the effects of the economic system and globalization that push our families and kababayan to migrate. All three Anakbayan women were speaking Spanish, Tagalog, and English so that most people at the rally could understand.

"First and foremost, we, the youth, stand in solidarity with all the migrant workers all over the world," said Michelle Saulon in response to the May 1 rally. "We won't stop and won't back down until there is legalization for all immigrants. Because some of us in Anakbayan are migrants too, and we understand. Lubog tayo sa masa. (We are one with the masses.)"





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HUNDREDS BID FAREWELL TO FILIPINA DOMESTIC WORKER FELY GARCIA

News Release
May 2, 2007

Reference: Lorena Sanchez & Shirley Cuyugan O'Brien, Philippine Forum-KABALIKAT, email: pf_kabalikat @ yahoo.com

Hundreds Bid Farewell to Filipina Domestic Worker Fely Garcia
Advocates Continue Push for 2nd investigation and Fixed Assistance Policy for OFW's

New York-- Hundreds from the Filipino community flocked to join the family of Felisa "Fely" Garcia last Sunday in a public wake and community farewell to the Filipina domestic worker at the Greenwich Village Funeral Home in lower Manhattan. The ceremony included a solemn prayer service presided by Fr. Sancho Garrote, chaplain of the Jacobi Medical Center, where Garcia's body had been recently released.

The community event was also highlighted by the presence of Garcia's two sons, Gabriel and Gliff, who flew in from the Philippines to receive their mother's body and settle her affairs before bringing her home to Batangas.

Eldest son Gabriel Garcia delivered a tearful eulogy to his mother, letting the audience of mainly Filipina domestic workers and youth know who exactly Fely Garcia was.

"Mabuting siyang tao, pinalaki niya kaming lahat na mga anak niya sa mabuting paraan. May pinag-aralan, titser siya sa high school noon sa Batangas at nag trabaho din sa office of the Mayor sa amin. (She was a very good person, she reared all of us in a very good manner. She was educated, and worked as a high school teacher in Batangas as well for the our Mayor's office)," Garcia stated in his speech.

The prayer service was immediately followed by a community program with offerings of statements and poems by Shirley Cuyugan-O'Brien of Philippine Forum-KABALIKAT, NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FIRE), Anakbayan Youth Collective, Lakas Diwa Filipino Youth Alliance of New Jersey, Kinding Sindaw, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, and the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns.


A reading of a poem Misteryo ng Hapis (Mystery of Sorrow), written for Fely Garcia by Palanca award-winning poet and University of the Philippines professor Maria Josephine Barrios, was read in both English and Filipino.

The community wake for Fely Garcia, one of the largest public community wakes for a Filipina in New York City, was organized by the Philippine Forum, a community service organization in Queens and its domestic workers organizing project KABALIKAT. Philippine Forum-KABALIKAT continues to serve as duly-authorized community advocates pushing for Garcia's family's demands for a second investigation into their mother's death and full financial assistance from the Philippine Consulate to cover all death-related expenses. A community campaign launched by Philippine Forum-KABALIKAT won a partial repatriation fee of $4900 out of the Consulate's wallet. The advocates also raised funds and assisted in visa-processing for Gabriel and Gliff's travel to the United States.

In her native Batangas, Garcia's only daughter Geraldine Gamboa and her other son Gilbert Garcia are also preparing for their mother's homecoming. The Garcia family is being assisted by the national office of Migrante International, a Philippine migrant rights alliance, and representatives of the Gabriela Women's Party in the Philippines. Both Migrante and Gabriela are scheduled to meet Garcia's children at the airport.

The family, who was not alerted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of their mother's death until 2 weeks after her body was found, expressed their dismay over the failure on the Philippine government's part to do the right thing, not until the community organizations pressured for justice.

"Sa nangyaring ito ay mas lumalabas lamang ang mga kakulangan at problema sa gobyerno hinggil sa pag aasikaso at serbisyo sa mga kababayan natin sa abroad. May pangangailangan talaga na baguhin ang sistema tungkol sa pagtulong sa mga Pilipino na maging policy at hindi yung case to case lamang. (Because of what happened, the inadequacies and problems of the government concerning assistance and services to our compatriots abroad was exposed. There is an urgent need to change the system and make a fixed policy of assistance for Filipinos instead of on a case-to-case basis)," Gamboa stated.

Both Migrante International and Gabriela Women's Party have been pushing for a genuinely migrant-conscious legislative agenda in the Philippine Congress, despite over three decades of the Philippine Government's Labor Export Policy (LEP) launched by former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in 1974 to facilitate massive outmigration of Filipino workers (OFWs).

Fr. Sancho Garrote also thanked the lead role of grassroot community organizations in pursuing justice for Garcia and all OFW's.

"We need more organizations offering genuine help to the plight of overseas Filipinos, like the Philippine Forum-KABALIKAT, especially in the absence of the genuine rights and welfare policies for our compatriots abroad," Garrote stated in his sermon last Sunday.

For more information on the Justice for Fely Campaign, call Philippine Forum-KABALIKAT at 718-565-8862, or email pf_kabalikat @ yahoo.com. ###